Method and device for treating textile items

ABSTRACT

In commercial laundries, textile items are treated in batches. This applies in particular to washing in continuous washing machines and to drying in tumble driers. Such a batch-wise treatment has to be carried out such that the treatment does justice to all textile items of the batch. The textile items are mixed in the batch-wise treatment, making it necessary to sort the batches again after the treatment, namely, the textile items have to be identified again after the treatment. The invention provides that the textile items are individually treated in succession, resulting in an individual treatment of each textile item being implemented. Damage to the textile items or wrong treatments are thus avoided. The textile items are treated while maintaining the sequence of the textile items, on account of which the textile items are not mixed and do not have to be sorted again at the end of the treatment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority on and the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2019 006 824.6 having a filing date of 30 Sep. 2019 and German Patent Application No. 10 2019 006 868.8 having a filing date of 2 Oct. 2019.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for treating textile items in a laundry, wherein the textile items to be treated upon receipt thereof are identified, pre-sorting of the textile item optionally takes place, the textile items are dissimilarly treated in a plurality of treatment stations, and the textile items aftertreatment are prepared for delivery depending on the identification of said textile items, and to a device for treating textile items, having a plurality of treatment stations such as at least one washing installation, a mangle, and/or a dryer, and/or a finisher, and a folding installation which successively subject the textile items to different treatments.

Prior Art

A large variety of textile items are typically to be treated in laundries. The treatment differs depending on the type of the textile items.

The textile items can be, for example, so-called flat laundry, this being in particular tablecloths, napkins, duvet covers, pillow covers, and bedsheets; so-called drywork laundry, this being in particular laundry items from terry fabrics (toweling); items of clothing such as jackets, pants, T-shirts, overalls, aprons or the like, in particular such items that are professionally used (workwear), or else special items such as, for example, rugs, doormats, entrance mats, and headrest covers above all for public transport.

The treatment of the textile items comprises at least a wet treatment which is followed by at least mangling, drying or finishing of the textile items as well as subsequent folding and optionally stacking and packing. The textile items in the wet treatment are washed and also de-watered, sanitized, rinsed, and optionally de-watered once again. The textile items after the washing in the wet treatment can also first be rinsed, then sanitized and de-watered. In addition to the afore-mentioned steps of the wet treatment, finishing and/or bleaching of the textile items can also take place in the wet treatment. For the sake of simplicity, reference hereunder is made only to “washing” the textile items and to a “washing installation”. Unless otherwise mentioned, this includes the above-mentioned additional treatment steps in the wet treatment of the textile items.

Flat laundry is usually mangled and then folded after the washing, thus following all treatment steps of the wet treatment. In contrast, drywork laundry, in particular toweling, is not mangled after the washing but only dried and optionally subsequently folded. Special items, for example rugs and mats, are also usually only dried but not mangled. The same applies to items of clothing, including items of workwear. Such textile items are either dried or finished after the washing, said finishing including drying.

Flat laundry is usually washed, mangled, and folded. Flat laundry can optionally also be subjected to sanitizing or finishing. In contrast, drywork laundry, in particular toweling, is not mangled after the washing but only dried. Special items, for example rugs and mats, are also usually only dried but not mangled. Items of clothing, including workwear, not mangled after the washing. Such items of laundry are either dried of finished after the washing, said finishing including drying.

To date it has been commonplace in laundries for textile items of all types to be washed in batches, in particular in elongate continuous washing machines (also referred to as “tunnel washing machines”). Comparatively small batches of textile items to date have often also been washed in washer/extractor machines. The drying of textile items which cannot or must not be mangled also takes place in batches in tumble dryers.

In the batch-wise washing and/or drying of textile items a multiplicity of textile items that are to be treated identically and simultaneously are at all times situated in a corresponding drum. Mixing of the textile items herein takes place in that said textile items do not have a defined sequence, thus are situated in a non-uniformly distributed manner in the batch. This results in the washed and/or dried textile items of the respective batch exiting the washing machine and the dryer is a non-defined sequence. Therefore, the textile items after the batch-wise washing and/or drying have to be singularized again and re-identified in order for said textile items to be able to be delivered to the correct customer and/or recipient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of achieving a method and a device which enable textile items to be treated such that the latter are not mixed herein.

A method for achieving this object is a method for treating textile items in a laundry, wherein the textile items to be treated upon receipt thereof are identified, pre-sorting of the textile item optionally takes place, the textile items are dissimilarly treated in a plurality of treatment stations, and the textile items aftertreatment are prepared for delivery depending on the identification of said textile items, wherein the textile items are individually treated in succession in that each individual textile item is transported through all treatment stations provided for the treatment of said textile item, and the respective textile item herein in the respective treatment station provided for the respective textile item is individually treated according to the manner resulting from the identification of said textile item. Accordingly, the textile items are individually treated in succession. Each individual textile item is transported through the treatment stations provided for the treatment of said textile item, in particular through all treatment stations in which the respective textile item has to be treated. In the individual passing of each textile item through the treatment station provided for its treatment, the respective textile item in each treatment station provided for the treatment of the respective item is individually treated according to the manner provided and/or required resulting from the identification of said item. A complete individual treatment which does justice to the demands and/or requirements of each textile item thus takes place. In this individual treatment, each textile item is subjected to an individual treatment provided and/or required for said textile item. This herein is a wet treatment, preferably washing, that is to say washing, rinsing, sanitizing, de-watering, and optionally bleaching or finishing, respectively, drying or mangling and folding, respectively.

It is preferably provided that the textile items are individually transported in succession, preferably in a continuous manner, through all treatment stations provided and/or required for the complete treatment of each individual textile item. For this purpose, all treatment stations are preferably interconnected or interlinked, respectively, so as to form a treatment line. This preferably takes place by conveyors between successive treatment stations and other required stations which are assigned to said treatment stations. This interlinking can take place using independent conveyors, preferably continuous conveyors, which are provided between successive treatment stations, or else ahead of and/or behind the respective first or last treatment station. However, it is also conceivable for the conveyors that extend through the individual treatment stations to be configured or extended such that the dedicated (internal) conveyors of the treatment stations are in direct succession and the individual textile items, on account thereof, are able to be transported successively through all treatment stations.

The stations not directly treating the textile items are preferably also at least partially included in the interlinking. These stations can be accumulator stations, sorting stations, identification stations, feeding stations, and/or stackers and optionally packing stations and picking stations.

According to one potential refinement of the method it is provided that the individual textile items are treated in the spread-out state while running through, preferably in a continuous manner. This treatment at all times comprises washing (wet treatment) which includes at least de-watering, sanitizing and/or rinsing, and folding. Mangling, or drying or finishing, respectively, additionally takes place, depending on the type of the textile item.

One advantageous potential design embodiment of the method provides that the textile items maintain the sequence thereof when running through the treatment stations, in particular when the respective textile item runs through all treatment stations required for the treatment of said textile item. On account thereof, the textile items after the entire treatment thereof at the end of the treatment line thus have the same sequence as prior to the treatment. The sequence of the textile items after the last treatment thereof corresponds in particular to the sequence in which the textile items were initially identified.

The method is preferably designed such that the sequence of the textile items after the final treatment corresponds to the initial sequence of the textile items. For example, the initial sequence of the textile items can be the sequence of said textile items in which the latter were initially identified. This sequence preferably also corresponds to the sequence of the textile items prior to the first treatment.

A further advantageous design embodiment of the method which provides that the textile items in the same sequence run through all treatment stations is possible. In the case of dissimilar items completely or partially running through dissimilar treatment stations, those textile items which run through identical successive treatment stations and/or are treated in identical treatment stations maintain their sequence, wherein the treatment of the successive textile items that run through the identical treatment stations can also take place so as to relate individually to each individual textile item. On account thereof, an individual treatment of the respective textile item also takes place in the case of different potential treatments, for example mangled laundry or drywork laundry, respectively.

One further potential design embodiment of the method provides that the sequence of the textile items is not changed during the entire treatment. On account thereof, textile items that have been initially identified can also be found again after the treatment. In the simplest case, this can take place in that the textile items are counted during the identification. For example, when the 570^(th) textile item is identified, this corresponds to the 570^(th) treated item because the textile items do not change their sequence in the treatment in that said textile items are not mixed in the treatment, as has been commonplace to date, for example when washing and/or drying.

In the case of textile items of dissimilar types not being able to be treated in identical treatment stations and of at least one type of treatment having to take place in dissimilar treatment stations, the textile items are correspondingly diverted. This diversion takes place in a targeted, controlled manner such that the sequence of the textile items prior to the diversion, for example ahead of a turnout, again corresponds to the original sequence once the textile items which have been treated in parallel at different treatment stations are subsequently combined again.

A potential advantageous refinement of the method lies in that the running of the textile items through at least one treatment station is monitored and/or tracked. It is particularly advantageous for at least the monitoring or tracking, respectively, of the running of the textile item to be performed ahead of the first treatment station and behind the last treatment station. Additionally or alternatively, however, the monitoring or tracking, respectively, of the running of the textile items through the treatment section formed by the individual interlinked treatment stations can also take place ahead of or behind at least one treatment station. The tracking or monitoring, respectively, of the textile items when running through the treatment section and/or all treatment stations or individual treatment stations of the latter enables each individual textile item to be at least localized, in particular the position of said textile item to be determined, at least in terms of the entry into the first treatment station and the exit from the last treatment station and/or prior to and after the treatment. Alternatively or additionally, the tracking or monitoring, respectively, of the textile items when running through the treatment section can also serve for determining the sequence of the textile items which run successively through the treatment section at least ahead of the first treatment station and behind the last treatment station, and/or prior to and after the treatment. A controller of the method thus receives items of information pertaining to which textile item will be the next to reach the first treatment station and which textile item has passed the last treatment station, thus has been completely treated. When the textile items are also tracked when running between treatment stations or through individual treatment stations, the controller of the method or a corresponding device also receives items of information pertaining to where the respective, in particular each individual, item is currently located.

It is preferably provided that the tracking of the textile items running through the treatment section takes place by identifying and/or at least measuring each individual textile item at least ahead of the first treatment station and one of the last treatment stations. It can be determined on account thereof which textile item is momentarily located at the respective identification or measurement point, respectively, and alternatively or additionally further parameters of the respective textile items are able to be determined, for example such parameters which are helpful or required for subsequent individual treatments of the respective textile item, for example for the folding, preferably the folding format, the formation of a stack, the packing, and/or the assembling so as to form packs for identical customers.

The identification and/or measurement of the respective textile item for the purpose of tracking the running of the latter through the treatment section or line can take place in various ways, for example by timing, by image-generating installations, and/or scanning apparatuses for reading data carriers which are associated with the respective textile item. The desired items of information which are able to be used for monitoring the textile item running through the treatment stations and/or controlling the treatment of the textile items in the respective treatment station can be acquired in this way. This enables an individual treatment of each individual textile item in a manner corresponding to the predefined parameters.

One advantageous potential refinement of the invention provides the running of each individual textile item through all or individual treatment stations to be tracked by measuring the running time. To this end, the known running speed of the textile items through all or individual treatment stations and the known distance between successive locations of the timing are resorted to. It can be mathematically derived therefrom after which period of time a specific textile item has to reach the location of the final timing after the respective treatment, or after all treatments. When a comparison of the calculated nominal time period and the running time determined by the timing results in identical times, this indicates the textile item for which the respective timing has been carried out. After the completion of all treatments it can thus be determined which textile item this refers to, and reliable tracking of the individual textile items can thus be performed. This approach is also able to be applied when individual textile items have been excluded during the treatment and/or the drying or mangling, respectively, of dissimilar textile items takes place in parallel tracks beside one another.

It is furthermore preferably provided that the sequence of such textile items which run through the same treatment stations does not change during transportation through all of said treatment stations.

According to one advantageous refinement of the method it can be provided that at least initial pre-sorting of the identified textile items is performed by means of the identification of the textile items, preferably each individual textile item, prior to the treatment of the textile items. This initial sorting of the textile items is preferably performed according to whether said textile items have to be mangled, dried, or finished, thus whether this is, for example, flat laundry, drywork laundry, or items of clothing (so-called shaped parts). It is moreover conceivable for such textile items which require special treatment to be determined in the initial sorting. Such textile items can in this instance be optionally excluded when the special treatment cannot take place while using treatment installations which permit textile items in succession to run through.

Another potential refinement of the method provides detecting of each individual textile item according to the sequence thereof to be performed prior to the first treatment, in particular ahead of the first treatment station, and/or for said sequence to be stored in a controller of the transport system of the treatment line. This detection preferably takes place in terms of the individual treatment parameters of the respective textile item. The treatment parameters are in particular such which can be set and/or varied at the treatment stations, above all at the machines which form said treatment stations. On account thereof, an individual bespoke treatment of each textile item which runs through the respective treatment station in at least one series of successive textile items is guaranteed.

A device for achieving the object mentioned at the outset is a device for treating textile items, having a plurality of treatment stations such as at least one washing installation, a mangle, and/or a dryer, and/or a finisher, and a folding installation which successively subject the textile items to different treatments, wherein at least some treatment stations are disposed successively in such a manner that the individual textile items run through all treatment stations provided for the full treatment of the respective textile item individually and in succession, and the textile items are continuously transported individually in succession to the individual treatment stations and through the latter. Accordingly, at least some of the treatment stations are disposed successively in such a manner that the individual textile items run through the treatment stations provided for the respective treatment of said textile items in succession, and the textile items are able to be continuously transported through individually in succession, preferably in a continuous series, to the individual treatment stations and through the latter. A treatment line which gradually treats the textile items in the provided manner is thus formed in the laundry.

The textile items are preferably able to be transported continuously in succession, thus gradually, through those treatment stations in which the textile items are to be treated, can be treated, and/or have to be treated.

The device can preferably be refined such that for transporting the textile items through the successive treatment stations the treatment stations have conveyors and/or means for transporting the textile items through the respective treatment station, and said conveyors are configured such that the latter enable comprehensive transportation of the textile items from one treatment station to the other. Alternatively, separate conveyors which connect the conveyors of the successive treatment stations can be provided between successive treatment stations, interlinking of the treatment stations so as to form a continuous laundry line thus taking place. These conveyors between successive treatment stations, or the conveyors of the latter, respectively, then serve as transfer conveyors of the successive textile items from one station to the next, as well as to the first treatment station and out of the treatment station.

The conveyors, in particular the afore-mentioned conveyors, are preferably continuous conveyors such as, for example, belt conveyors, articulated belt conveyors, or continuous conveyors preferably having air-permeable belts.

The device can be refined in such a manner that a preparation installation for preparing the textile items for the treatment of the latter in the treatment stations is disposed ahead of the first treatment station, in particular a washing installation. The preparation installation can be configured, for example, for spreading and/or depositing each individual textile item on a conveyor for feeding the respective textile item to the first treatment station and/or to a conveyor ahead of, or in, respectively, the first treatment station. However, it is also conceivable for the preparation installation to serve for hanging the items of clothing on a transport hanger, or hooking said items of clothing to a transport hanger, which transports the items of clothing or other textile items through a corresponding treatment station, for example a finisher. The preparation installation thus serves for preparing the textile items for the treatments which take place when running through the successive treatment stations and for preferably also placing said textile items individually and successively onto a conveyor of the first treatment station, or ahead of the latter.

A potential refinement of the device provides for a pre-sorting station of the textile items to be disposed ahead of the first treatment station or ahead of the preparation installation. The pre-sorting installation serves for separating textile items of various types which have to be processed according to another processing principle, for example for separating toweling, which must not be mangled and instead has to be dried, from textile items to be mangled. Depending on the sorting criteria, at least two series of successive textile items of the same type are then formed, for example textile items which have to be mangled, on the one hand, and textile items which have to be dried, on the other hand. Once these textile items have been mangled or dried, respectively, they are again converged so as to form one series of textile items, the sequence of the latter preferably being identical to the sequence of the textile items ahead of the sorting station.

The device can in particular have a detection station ahead of the first treatment installation. Said detection installation serves for detecting at least the treatment parameters of the textile items. The treatment parameters of each individual successive item are preferably determined by the detection installation ahead of the first treatment station. These treatment parameters determined are transmitted to at least one controller of the treatment stations, preferably each individual treatment station. By means of these treatment parameters, the treatment installation of the respective treatment station is then set individually for the respective textile item by the controller. On account thereof, an individual treatment of each individual textile item of a series of items continuously transported through the treatment station is guaranteed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail hereunder by means of the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a first exemplary embodiment of a device for forming a treatment line for treating textile items in a laundry;

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart according to a second exemplary embodiment of the device; and

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart according to a third exemplary embodiment of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The devices shown here form lines for treating each individual textile item, and preferably also treating individually textile items, in a laundry. The treatment lines guarantee an individual bespoke treatment of each textile item according to the continuous principle, preferably when successive textile items are transported continuously through the device, thus the treatment line according to the invention.

The textile items can be flat laundry, for example table linen and bed linen, shaped parts such as items of clothing, and/or drywork laundry, that is to say toweling. The textile items can however also be special items such as, for example, rugs or mats, in particular entrance mats.

The textile items are not only washed by the device representing a treatment line, that is to say subjected to a wet treatment comprising a number of steps, at least washing, sanitizing, de-watering and/or rinsing, but are also mangled or dried, or finished, respectively, and subsequently folded. Flat laundry is usually mangled. Shaped parts, specifically items of clothing, are dried and/or finished. Toweling is dried after a washing and thereafter immediately folded.

The devices shown also have peripheral installations which do not serve for washing, mangling, drying, finishing, and/or folding, but for sorting, accumulating, and identifying the textile items, preferably each individual textile item, for example. Peripheral installations can moreover also be stackers for stacking folded textile items of the same type, and/or packing installations.

The device of FIG. 1, when viewed in the direction of treatment 10, the latter also representing a running direction of the textile items through a device, possesses an initial accumulator 11 for textile items to be treated, a preparation installation 17, detection installation 12, three successive treatment stations, and a subsequent accumulator 18 for treated textile items. The three treatment stations in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 are a washing installation 14, a subsequent mangle 15, and a folding installation 16 for washed and mangled textile items which is disposed behind the mangle, when viewed in the direction of treatment 10. Because the washing installation 14 in the device of FIG. 1 is followed by a mangle 15, this device serves mainly for treating so-called flat laundry such as, in particular tablecloths, bedsheets, duvet covers, pillow covers, and optionally napkins.

In the device illustrated in FIG. 1, all textile items run through all afore-mentioned installations, in particular all three treatment installations, that is to say the washing installation 14, the mangle 15, and the folding installation 16, in the same manner.

A device for treating toweling, the latter not been mangled, instead of the mangle 15 has a dryer as the central treatment station. In a device for shaped parts, thus items of clothing such as, in particular, also workwear, the central treatment station is configured as a finisher instead of a mangle 15.

A supply point (not shown) of the textile items to be treated is situated ahead of the device of FIG. 1 which is configured as a treatment line. The textile items here are preferably supplied in bags or containers, for example carts. The textile items can also be identified already immediately upon being supplied, thus even ahead of the accumulator 11. At least a pre-identification preferably takes place here, specifically an identification of the type of the textile items, the origin (customer) thereof and/or the number of preceding treatments. However, it is also conceivable that a determination of all treatment parameters required for all of the treatments already takes place here too. The detection installation 12 in this instance can optionally be dispensed with.

An accumulator 18 for folded individual textile items and/or a stacker for folded textile items can optionally be provided behind the folding installation 16. An automatic picking installation which is not shown in FIG. 1 can also be present behind the folding installation 16, or optionally behind an accumulator disposed behind the folding installation 16. Said automatic picking installation assembles the treated textile items according to delivery criteria, for example for a specific customer, and optionally packs the thus assembled treated, folded, and potentially stacked textile items. A loading station (not shown) for completely treated, picked, and optionally packed textile items is provided at the end of the treatment line of FIG. 1. For example, loading of trucks which deliver the treated textile items to the envisaged recipients, in particular customers, takes place here, for example.

The accumulator 11 is configured for receiving the supplied textile items once the latter have been removed from the bags or containers which serve for supplying said textile items. The accumulator 11 optionally already receives the singularized textile items. The preparation installation 17 which follows the accumulator 11 first singularizes the textile items should the latter not already arrive in a singularized manner from the accumulator 11. The textile items by the preparation installation 17 are subsequently spread and placed flat on to a conveyor, preferably a continuous conveyor, such as a belt conveyor, for example, should this be flat laundry or toweling. In the case of other textile items, in particular shaped parts, for example items of clothing, said textile items by the preparation installation 17 are hooked on transport hangers, or hooked to transport hangers, respectively. The suspended textile items on these transport hangers are then transported through the subsequent stations of the device, at least the washing installation 14, a finisher, or the like.

The detection installation 12 serves for automatically detecting at least the items of information of the respective individual textile item that are relevant to the subsequent treatment. In the case of the detection installation 12 being the only identification installation of the device, an automatic determination of the type of origin (customer) and optionally of the number of already prior treatments of the respective textile item also takes place by the detection installation 12. The detection installation 12 preferably possesses at least one image-generating installation which serves in particular for determining the type, the shape, color, the fabric structure and/or the size of the respective textile item. Additionally or alternatively, the detection installation 12 can also have at least one data scanner which in a non-contacting manner automatically reads data from a chip, a barcode, a QR code, or any other data carrier with which the respective textile item is provided.

The washing installation 14 in the device of FIG. 1, which is provided for flat laundry, is a continuously operating flatbed washing machine having a continuous conveyor which transports the textile items to be washed continuously and successively by the continuous method through the washing installation 14. The textile items in this washing installation 14 are each washed individually in succession in the flat and spread-out state. The individually washed textile items are preferably also rinsed and optionally sanitized and/or provided with the finish in the washing installation 14. The washing installation 14 can moreover also be configured such that said washing installation de-waters each individual piece of laundry after the treatment.

In the device of FIG. 1, the washing installation 14 is followed by the mangle 15. Said mangle 15 herein is in particular a trough mangle, a belt mangle, or else a combination of both. The trough mangle can have a plurality of successive mangle rollers having mangle troughs assigned thereto. The belt mangle can likewise have a plurality of successive mangling members. However, the flat laundry can optionally also be dried in another manner, for example in a flat dryer which the textile items run through in the exact same manner as the washing installation 14, specifically individually in succession in the flat state.

The folding installation 16 which follows the mangle 15 or the like, serves for folding the washed and dried textile items as to correspond to the type and above all the size of said textile items. The folded laundry items or other textile items are preferably stacked, specifically textile items of the same type which are to be delivered to the same recipient (customer).

The individual installations, accumulators, and the mangle 15 of the device serving as a treatment line operate by the continuous method. To this end, the washing installation 14 possesses a conveyor which continuously transports the textile items individually, so as to be spaced apart in the flat state, through the washing installation 14. The folding installation 16 possesses a plurality of conveyors which fold the textile items in the folding installation 16 and herein simultaneously transport said textile items through the folding installation. The textile items are transported through the mangle 15 in succession on account of the at least one rotatably drivable mangle roller or the mangling belts. The other installations, and optionally also the accumulators 11 or 18, respectively, can also have conveyors, for example belt conveyors, which transport the textile items onwards individually in the direction of treatment 10.

The individual installations, the accumulators 11 and/or 18, as well as the mangle 15 and all other treatment stations are interlinked by conveyors, above all continuous conveyors, which are symbolically illustrated by lines and which continuously transport the textile items individually in succession from one installation or station, respectively, onwards in the direction of treatment 10 such that the textile items to be treated are able to be continuously transported individually and completely through the entire device of FIG. 1.

To the extent of the mangle 15 of FIG. 1 being replaced by a dryer which successively dries the textile items so as to lie flat by the continuous method, said dryer also possesses at least one conveyor which transports the textile items in the direction of treatment 10 through the dryer and to the folding installation 16 following set dryer.

In the case of the device instead of the mangle 15 having a flatbed dryer or a continuous dryer having a continuous conveyor for transporting the individual successive textile items through said dryer, respectively, it is conceivable that the conveyors of the washing installation 14 of the dryer which dries the textile items in a flat state, and of the folding installation 16 are directly successive such that no separate conveyors for interlinking the individual installations and treatment stations of the device of FIG. 1 are required between the washing installation 14 and the dryer, and between the dryer and the folding installation 16.

The method according to the invention using the treatment line of FIG. 1 is carried out as follows.

The textile items to be treated upon being supplied in the laundry are, preferably continuously, transported individually and successively by the continuous method in the direction of treatment 10 through the accumulator 11, the preparation installation 17, the detection installation 12, the washing installation 14, the mangle 15, and the folding installation 16. The textile items herein maintain the sequence thereof in which said textile items initially run into the device, for example when passing the detection installation 12 and/or an identification installation (not shown in FIG. 1) ahead of the preparation installation 17 so as to be unchanged until after the treatment. Said textile items exit the folding installation 16 in the sequence in which said textile items have been fed to the treatment line. Because the textile items in the device shown in FIG. 1 do not change the sequence during the treatment in a single-track run and/or a single-track treatment, the sequence of the textile items remains identical during the entire treatment of said textile items.

The textile items supplied are first stored in the accumulator 11. The textile items here are preferably already removed from the bags or containers, respectively, serving for supplying said textile items. The textile items are gradually retrieved from the accumulator 11, preferably in a singularized manner, and are transported to the preparation installation 17 where said textile items are prepared for the subsequent treatment, in particular are placed so as to be flat and spread-out on a conveyor.

The textile items are individually identified in the subsequent detection installation. To the extent that a partial initial identification of each individual textile item has not already taken place ahead of the accumulator 11, the identification is completely performed in the detection installation 12. This takes place by way of at least one image-generating installation, for example a camera, wherein this can also be a 3D color camera and/or a data scanner for a chip, a barcode, a QR code or other data carriers on or in each individual textile item. This herein is establishing from whom the respective textile item originates (customer), the type of the textile item, the latter being in particular specifications as to whether the textile item is white or colored, from which material said textile item is made, and whether said textile item has a single ply or multiple plies, and all treatment parameters which are required for the subsequent treatments. Further treatment parameters may be customer-specific and be derived based on the customer from where the respective textile item originates.

The washing installation 14, the mangle 15, and the folding installation 16 are then individually set and controlled for each textile item by means of the determined data, in particular the treatment parameters. The preparation installation 17 can optionally also be controlled by means of the previous identification of the textile items.

The relevant data, in particular the treatment parameters, determined at least by the detection installation 12 are transmitted to the respective treatment installation, in particular the washing installation 14, the mangle 15, and the folding installation 16, specifically preferably to the controllers of the mentioned treatment installations or treatment stations, respectively. The data of at least the detection installation 12 received by the controllers of the washing installation 14, of the mangle 15, and of the folding installation 16 is then used for setting and controlling the mentioned treatment installations such that the respective textile item is treated individually by means of the treatment parameters of said textile item and optionally by means of further data originating from the identification of the respective textile item. In this way, an individual treatment of each textile item takes place in the successive and interlinked treatment installations, in particular the washing installation 14, the mangle 15, the folding installation 16, and optionally the preparation installation 17.

Because the textile items are treated in the treatment line of FIG. 1 while maintaining the sequence of said textile items, the latter specifically running continuously through all treatment stages individually and without being reoriented, said textile items maintain their sequence without any change. The sequence of the textile items initially established in particular by the detection installation 12 still exists also after the folding installation 16 such that it is thereafter possible for said textile items to be automatically picked, prepared for delivery, and correspondingly delivered without being identified once again.

FIG. 2 shows a device for treating dissimilar textile items, specifically flat laundry which is mangled, and drywork laundry, for example toweling, which is dried in dryers. The treatment line illustrated in FIG. 2 therefore possesses turnouts 22, 27 so as to be able to continuously treat by the continuous method flat laundry as well as toweling or other textile items which cannot be mangled, in particular so as to subject flat laundry as well as toweling or other textile items which cannot be mangled to an individual treatment.

The supplied textile items of dissimilar types are first removed from bags or other containers and stored in the accumulator 20. Identifying the supplied textile items to be treated takes place ahead of, in, or behind the accumulator 20. This herein is preferably only an initial identification in which such items of information pertaining to the respective textile item which are required at least for pre-sorting are obtained.

After the identification, the textile items reach a sorting installation 19. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the textile items in said sorting installation 19 are sorted according to whether said textile items have to be mangled or only dried. When viewed in the direction of treatment 10, the sorting installation 19 is followed by two parallel accumulators 20, 21. The sorting installation 19 controls a turnout 22 in such a manner that textile items to be mangled, for example flat laundry, reach the (upper) accumulator 21, and textile items to be dried, for example toweling, reach the (lower) accumulator 21. A junction 23 is situated behind the accumulator, textile items from the (upper) accumulator 21 to be mangled, as well as textile items from the (lower) accumulator 21 only to be dried at said junction being gradually transported controlled in a targeted manner in a preferably established sequence to a common detection installation 24 in which at least the treatment parameters of the textile items from both accumulators 21 required for the subsequent treatment are determined.

The preparation installation 25 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is integrated in the neighboring accumulators 21. However, said preparation installation 25 can also be separately provided between the accumulators 21 and the detection installation 24. The textile items by the preparation installation 25 are prepared for the individual treatment in the subsequent treatment stations. In the case of flat laundry and toweling, spreading and placing the individual successive textile items onto a conveyor, preferably a continuous conveyor, of the subsequent washing installation 26, or an infeed conveyor ahead of the conveyor of the washing installation 26, respectively, takes place by the preparation installation 25.

The washing installation 26 is configured as a washing machine for washing the individual textile items in a flat state, all textile items preferably gradually running through the washing machine at a minor mutual spacing. The textile items by the conveyor of the washing installation 26 herein are in particular transported continuously by the continuous method through the washing installation 26 and herein at least washed and optionally de-watered and sanitized, if required however also rinsed and/or finished, on account of which the textile items are subjected to the entire wet treatment provided therefor in the washing installation 26.

The textile items which exit the washing installation 26 in succession by a correspondingly controlled turnout 27 behind the washing installation 26 are distributed in a targeted manner to two parallel conveyor sections, or divided into two parallel conveying streams, respectively. Flat laundry which is to be mangled thus reaches the mangle 28, while toweling is transported through the dryer 29 which is disposed so as to be parallel beside the mangle 28. The flat laundry then gradually runs through the mangle 28, while toweling is gradually transported through the dryer 29 which is configured as a continuous dryer. To this end, the dryer 29 has a conveyor, preferably a continuous conveyor, on which and by which the toweling to be dried is continuously transported by the continuous method through the dryer 29 and herein is dried. The drying takes place in the flatbed method in that the toweling transported in a flat and stretched manner on an air-permeable belt of the conveyor of the dryer 29, or transported on the conveyor extending through the dryer 29, respectively, by the continuous method is continuously impinged with fully or partially heated drying air.

A further junction 30 at which the mangled textile items as well as the dried textile items are converged so as to be conjointly folded in succession in one track by the continuous method by the folding installation 31 is situated behind the mangle 28 and the dryer 29.

The device of FIG. 2 which represents a treatment line for various textile items possesses an interlinking of the individual components and installations of said device and a conveying section which in part has two parallel tracks or branches and which is composed of conveyors, preferably continuous conveyors which are disposed in a corresponding succession. The turnouts 22 and 27 are provided where the single conveying section branches out, specifically ahead of the accumulators 21 and ahead of the mangle 28 and the dryer 29. The junctions 23 and 30, where the textile laundry items from the accumulators 21 or from the mangle 28 and the dryer 29, respectively, are able to be converged again, specifically in the original initial sequence, are provided where the parallel two tracks or branches, respectively, of the conveying train are reunified, specifically behind the accumulators 21 and behind the mangle 28 and the dryer 29, when viewed in the direction of treatment 10.

The device of FIG. 2 possesses controllers which acquire the data of an initial identification of the textile items prior to sorting and ahead of the detection installation 24. The controller activates the sorting installation 19 as well as the turnout 22 ahead of the accumulators 21. In the exact same manner the controller, in particular separate controller, activates the turnout 27 ahead of the mangle 28 and the dryer 29. The controller can also be configured for activating the turnouts 22 and 27 such that the sequence of the successive textile items ahead of the sorting installation 19 still exists at the end of the treatment, in particular that the textile items can be fed to the folding installation 31 in the original initial sequence, and also exit said folding installation 31 in said manner.

The method according to the invention in the context of FIG. 1 has been described in the case of textile items of one type which can all be mangled, dried or finished. To the extent as being applicable, reference is made thereto. The method which is able to be carried out using the device of FIG. 2 differs from the previously described method as follows.

The device of FIG. 2 can be used for simultaneously treating a plurality of types of textile items. The illustration of FIG. 2 assumes that two different types of textile items are to be treated, specifically such textile items which have to be mangled and such textile items which have to be dried. For this reason, the textile items upon being supplied are identified at least in terms of the type of their processing (mangling or drying). Sorting of the textile items thereupon takes place in the sorting installation 19, in the exemplary embodiment shown specifically according to flat laundry and toweling or drywork laundry, respectively. The textile items in a sorted manner, thus sorted according to type, then reach the (upper) accumulator 21 for flat laundry, for example, and the (lower) accumulator 21 for drywork laundry, for example.

Textile items from the (upper) accumulator 21 as well as from the (lower) accumulator 21, when required, or in a predetermined sequence, are conjointly identified in terms of further criteria in the single detection installation 24, in particular in terms of the treatment criteria of said textile items for preferably all successive treatments.

All textile items in the spread-out and flat state are subsequently washed by the continuous method in the same washing installation 26, specifically the drywork laundry as well as the flat laundry. After the washing, the textile items are mangled in the mangle 28 or dried in the dryer 29 according to the requirements based on the pre-sorting. The flat laundry herein is successively transported gradually through the mangle 28, while the drywork laundry is successively dried in the dryer 29. The drywork laundry in the spread-out, flat state herein runs through the dryer 29 which operates by the continuous method.

The textile items after the mangling or drying, respectively, are again converged and conjointly folded in the provided manner and optionally stacked in the folding installation 31. The stacking takes place such that textile items which are destined for one customer or recipient, respectively, are situated in the same stack.

The folded textile items and/or the stack of identical folded textile items are/is temporarily stored in the accumulator 33 behind the folding installation 31 and retrieved according to requirements in order for the treated textile items to be picked. This picking can take place such that the treated textile items are loaded into a delivery vehicle in a manner corresponding to the route of said delivery vehicle.

While dissimilar textile items, in particular mangled laundry and drywork laundry, can be conjointly treated by the device of FIG. 2, the textile items after the treatment maintain their initial sequence. This is implemented by a corresponding reversal of the sorting which initially took place, or the pre-sorting after the (last) different treatment of the textile items prior to the folding of the textile items, respectively.

To this end, all textile items after the drying or mangling, respectively, are converged again ahead of the folding installation 31 in a manner supported by the controller of the device such that said textile items exit the end of the treatment line in the initial sequence.

While flat laundry as well as drywork laundry (toweling) is able to be treated by the device of FIG. 2, the treatments in this device also take place continuously by the continuous method.

FIG. 3 shows a device which is configured as a partially dual-track treatment line.

The textile items to be treated upon being supplied are identified in particular in terms of the treatment of said textile items and are subsequently sorted in a sorting installation 34. In the exact same manner as in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, it is assumed in this exemplary embodiment that the textile items are, for example, flat laundry and drywork laundry which is to be sorted in a corresponding manner.

A turnout 35 where the textile items are divided into flat laundry (mangled laundry) and toweling (drywork laundry) according to the sorting or pre-sorting thereof, respectively, follows the sorting installation 34 when viewed in the direction of treatment 10.

Two parallel strands, specifically a strand for mangled laundry and another strand for drywork laundry, follow the sorting installation 34 when viewed in the direction of treatment 10. Each strand possesses in each case one preparation installation 36, 37, in each case one detection installation 38, 39, in each case one washing installation 40, 41, and the strand for the mangled laundry possesses a mangle 42 and the strand for drywork laundry possesses a dryer 43. The parallel strands of the treatment sections thus possess the same number of treatment installations, wherein the preparation installations 36, 37, the detection installations 38, 39, and the washing installations 40, 41 can be of identical configuration. Differences in the two parallel treatment strands lie only in that the mangled strand for mangled laundry has the mangle 42, and the drywork strand for drywork laundry has the dryer 43.

When viewed in the direction of treatment 10, the mangled textile items and the dried textile items at a junction 44 converge once more at a common conveyor section which leads to the folding installation 45. All textile items are thus folded by the same folding installation 45. When required, in particular for reasons of capacity, it can be provided that a dedicated folding installation 45 is assigned to each of the treatment branches, or branch portions, that run in parallel beside one another, respectively, such that the device does not only have two washing installations 40, 41 but also two parallel folding installations 45.

An accumulator 46 follows the folding installation 45 also in the treatment line shown in FIG. 3. An accumulator which is not shown in FIG. 3 can optionally also be provided ahead of the sorting installation 34.

The method according to the invention is fundamentally carried out by the device of FIG. 3 in the exact same manner as the method of the previously described exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, to which reference is made. Differences in comparison to the preceding methods are explained hereunder.

The textile items run successively through the respective treatment branch, specifically the branch having the mangle 42 as well as the branch having the dryer 43, in an unchanged sequence.

It is preferably provided that the treatment of the textile items in the respective branch in which the preparation, the detection, the washing, and the mangling and also the drying takes place has an identical cycle time (treatment time). The textile items are then converged at the junction 44 in the sequence in which said textile items were divided into the two neighboring parallel treatment branches at the turnout 35. The textile items after folding in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 then also exit the treatment line in the same sequence in which said textile items were transported to the sorting installation 34.

The textile items are also subjected to a continuous individual treatment in the individual treatment stations by the device of FIG. 3, wherein the textile items are able to be individually transported through the treatment stations, in particular the washing installations 40, 41, the mangle 42, the dryer 43, and the folding installation 45. This through transportation takes place continuously by the continuous method by interlinking the individual components of the device and the conveyors and the branches of the latter, specifically the turnout 35 and the junctions 44.

Further alternative devices for using the treatment lines for more than two different types of textile items are conceivable, for example in which devices textile items which represent items of clothing are sorted according to trousers and tops, bed linen according to bed linen which has a single ply (bedsheets) or two plies (duvet covers, pillow covers).

It is also conceivable that the sorting is performed according to more than two different types of textile items, for example mangled laundry, toweling, and special items. Special items can be, for example, such textile items which are neither mangled nor dried but are finished. Such textile items also require another preparation in that said textile items are hooked on transport hangers, for example, and are transported through the treatment line in a state suspended on the transport hangers. Special items can also be items which do not have to be folded; said special items can nevertheless be treated by in particular the previously described devices in that said special items after the completion of the treatment are transported past the respective folding installation, or in that the respective device, specifically the treatment line, does not possess a folding installation.

The method provides the potential of tracking the textile items, preferably each individual textile item, when running through the treatment section, in particular the successive treatment stations of the latter.

The tracking of the textile items running through the treatment section preferably takes place by determining the presence of a respective textile item at at least one defined detection point, in particular an identification and/or measurement point. Localizing each individual one of the textile items is possible in this way. This localization can take place only at the end of the treatment, preferably at the start and the end of the treatment, or else between individual treatment stations, depending on the requirement.

The monitoring, the determining of the position, and/or the localizing of the respective individual textile item can take place individually in various ways, but above all by identification and/or measurement. The identification can take place by detecting an individual transponder signal of each individual textile item at specific locations where the position of the respective textile item is required. Corresponding detection points are situated here. Relevant data can also be read from a data carrier of the respective individual textile item at specific measurement points, so as to obtain items of information pertaining to the identity of said textile item, wherein the position of the item thus identified corresponds to the known position of the measurement point. It is also conceivable that each individual textile item is identified and/or localized individually by image-generating installations.

It can also be provided that the running of each individual textile item through the device, in particular all treatment stations and/or selected treatment stations, is individually monitored, for example by timing.

The timing in this instance, in particular for each individual textile item, is for example started in or ahead of the respective detection installation 12, 14, 38, 39 and the timing is stopped behind the respective folding installation 16, 31, 45. A determined running time for each textile item is thus obtained. This determined running time is compared with a calculated running time. The calculated running time results from the known, constant spacing of the locations from when the timing is started and stopped and from the known and/or constant running speed of the textile items through the device.

When it is established in the comparison that the measured running time of the respective textile item is identical to the calculated running time, this means that the same item which at the beginning of the time recording was situated at the location where the time recording was started, upon expiry of the calculated running time must be situated where the timing of the same item is concluded. It can thus be at least determined, preferably after the treatment, at the location where the timing is concluded or stopped, which textile item is momentarily situated at this location.

Simple and reliable tracking of the textile items through the device is guaranteed in the manner described above. This tracking can take place more precisely the more locations are provided for timing. For example, the tracking can thus take place after each selected treatment station. The tracking of the textile items taking place in this manner is also possible when a textile item is lost during the treatment, for example, or has to be rejected because said textile item has been damaged.

The above-described possibilities of monitoring and/or tracking preferably each individual textile item are suitable above all for the devices and methods shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, where individual textile items have to be treated differently, specifically have to be mangled or dried, respectively, and the textile items to this end are transported through the devices on different transport paths, for example in parallel beside one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   10 Direction of treatment -   11 Accumulator -   12 Detection installation -   14 Washing installation -   15 Mangle -   16 Folding installation -   17 Preparation installation -   18 Accumulator -   19 Sorting installation -   20 Accumulator -   21 Accumulator -   22 Turnout -   23 Junction -   24 Detection installation -   25 Preparation installation -   26 Washing installation -   27 Turnout -   28 Mangle -   29 Dryer -   30 Junction -   31 Folding installation -   34 Sorting installation -   35 Turnout -   36 Preparation installation -   37 Preparation installation -   38 Detection installation -   39 Detection installation -   40 Washing installation -   41 Washing installation -   42 Mangle -   43 Dryer -   44 Junction -   45 Folding installation -   46 Accumulator 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for treating textile items in a laundry, wherein the textile items to be treated upon receipt thereof are identified, pre-sorting of the textile item optionally takes place, the textile items are dissimilarly treated in a plurality of treatment stations, and the textile items aftertreatment are prepared for delivery depending on the identification of said textile items, wherein the textile items are individually treated in succession in that each individual textile item is transported through all treatment stations provided for the treatment of said textile item, and the respective textile item herein in the respective treatment station provided for the respective textile item is individually treated according to the manner resulting from the identification of said textile item.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the textile items are individually transported in succession through all treatment stations required for treating said textile items.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the textile items are treated in the spread-out state while running through the successive treatment stations.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the textile items maintain the sequence thereof when running through the treatment stations that serve for treating said textile items.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sequence of the textile items after the final treatment thereof corresponds to the initial sequence of the textile items.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sequence of the textile items is not changed during the treatment.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least initial sorting of the identified textile items according to which treatment is provided for said textile items takes place by means of the identification of each individual textile item that takes place prior to the treatment of the textile items.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein textile items which are treated at least partially in dissimilar treatment stations after the least treatment are reinstated in terms of their original sequence prior to the initial treatment.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the running of each individual textile item through the treatment section is monitored.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the running of each individual textile item through the treatment section is monitored by identifying each individual textile item at least ahead of the first and behind the last treatment station.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein timing for determining the running time of the respective individual textile item through the treatment stations take place prior to commencing the treatment and at least upon terminating the treatment, optionally also between at least successive treatments, and the measured running time is in each case compared with a running time calculated from the known distance between the beginning and end of the timing and from the known continuous running speed of the respective textile item through the at least one treatment station, wherein it is derived from a measured running time which is identical to the calculated running time that this is the same textile item for which the running time has been measured.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detecting the respective individual textile item takes place ahead of the first treatment of the textile items.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein detecting the respective individual textile item in terms of the individual treatment parameters of each individual textile item for at least part of the subsequent treatments of the latter takes place prior to the first treatment of the textile items.
 14. A device for treating textile items, having a plurality of treatment stations such as at least one washing installation, a mangle, and/or a dryer, and/or a finisher, and a folding installation which successively subject the textile items to different treatments, wherein at least some treatment stations are disposed successively in such a manner that the individual textile items run through all treatment stations provided for the full treatment of the respective textile item individually and in succession, and the textile items are continuously transported individually in succession to the individual treatment stations and through the latter.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein for transporting the textile items through the treatment stations, all treatment stations have conveyors for transporting the textile items through the respective treatment stations.
 16. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein conveyors for transferring the successive textile items in an unchanged sequence to the following treatment station are provided at least between successive treatment stations.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a preparation installation for the textile items for the treatment of the latter in the treatment stations is disposed ahead of the first treatment station, and the preparation installation is configured for spreading and depositing each individual textile item on the conveyor of the respective treatment station.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a preparation installation for the textile items for treating the latter in the treatment stations is disposed ahead of the first treatment station.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a sorting installation of the textile items that serves at least for pre-sorting is disposed ahead of the first treatment station.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a detection installation for detecting at least the treatment parameters of each individual textile item is disposed ahead of the first treatment station.
 21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the detection installation is networked with at least one controller of at least some of the treatment stations in such a manner that the at least one controller for individually treating the textile items controls the treatment installations as a function of the items of information of the respective textile item determined by the detection installation. 